THREATS to two Great Sankey South councillors and their family have been referred to Cheshire Police.

Executive board members Cllr Jean Carter and Cllr Hitesh Patel have attended a number of community meetings to discuss the Warrington Western Link scheme in recent weeks.

But both have been criticised and on the receiving end of 'vitriolic abuse' from some residents.

In a joint letter to residents, the pair said they 'continue to encourage everyone to make their voice heard in the right way'.

It added: "Firstly, we'd like to thank all those who have engaged so far with the consultation.

"We have no doubt that this consultation is a genuine attempt to understand residents' views on the various options.

"As local councillors we are here to listen to, and respect, the views of all the residents of Sankey South.

"We have attended many events, road shows, meetings and surgeries where we have heard loud and clear the concerns of residents about these routes and the potential impact on communities.

"It is also fair to say that we have had some positive feedback but as local councillors and executive board members we want to remain impartial so that all residents can be reassured that their views, for or against, will be acknowledged.

"However, while we understand the anxieties and unhappiness this consultation exercise has caused in some quarters, this cannot excuse a minority of residents who cross the line, using social media to vilify us and threaten our personal safety.

"Sadly, we have had to refer the increasingly vitriolic abuse we have received, such as the encouragement of criminal offences and threats to our family, to Cheshire Police.

"To be clear to those people, neither of us has had any briefings with council officers or anyone else at the Town Hall, which causes us to doubt that this is anything but a genuine consultation."

The councillors also reiterated that neither of them have 'any affiliation to any private business that may benefit from any of the proposed routes'.

They added: "Once this consultation concludes and a preferred route is identified, further work will then take place to develop a business case for the council's executive board to consider.

"This could then be submitted, alongside bids from 19 other councils, to the Government.

"Based on the information we have all received to date, it is clear that five of the routes have a greater impact on Great Sankey South than the sixth.

"But until all the evidence/modelling data/impact assessments comes to the executive board in November, where we will be asked to vote on any preferred route, we need to remain open-minded.

"Councillors Carter, King and Patel were elected to represent and support the residents of Great Sankey South in 2016 and we have always done our best to improve the ward, including for example the work done by Jean to raise £75,000 of public money to finally refurbish Marina Avenue play park.

"We will continue to listen to what residents have to say and we remain committed to Great Sankey South."

The Western Link public consultation ends on Friday.

For more information visit warrington.gov.uk/westernlink.